Barnsley will head to Rotherham in buoyant mood this weekend following last Saturday’s 3-2 win against Leeds United at Oakwell.
Goals from Tom Bradshaw, Ryan Kent and Conor Hourihane secured a 12th league win of the season for the Reds.
Paul Heckingbottom’s men now sit within four points of the play-offs and having won six of their last nine league games, they make their first ever trip to the New York Stadium bursting with confidence.
Hosts Rotherham go into the clash having lost four of their last five in all competitions including last weekend’s 4-0 defeat at Newcastle.
That result leaves the Millers nine points adrift of safety with 19 games left to play but despite that, Paul Warne’s side have tasted victory in three of their last four home league games.
Wins against QPR, Wigan and Norwich have turned the New York Stadium into somewhat of a hard place to go in recent months and the Reds will have to be prepared for a tough afternoon when they make the short trip down the M1 on Saturday.
Previous Meetings
The Reds will be looking to extend their eight match unbeaten run against Rotherham this weekend.
Since the Millers last tasted victory in this fixture all the way back in October 1982, there have been three draws and five Barnsley wins; the most recent of which came in August.
At Oakwell goals from Marc Roberts, Adam Hammill, Tom Bradshaw and Ryan Kent not only earned bragging rights for the Reds but also their 22nd win against the Millers.
Barnsley also secured victory in the last game to be played between the sides in Rotherham but with that fixture coming just over 11 years ago, Saturday’s match will see the Reds make their New York Stadium debut.
Team News
Ryan Kent is likely to continue on the left-hand side of Barnsley’s midfield following a strong performance against Leeds last weekend.
Behind him Gethin Jones could start at left-back once again following an impressive debut, but both Aidy White and Adam Hammill will be pushing for recalls after dropping to the bench against the Whites. There also could be a debut for latest signing Matty James in the centre of midfield.
One man who will not be involved is Andy Yiadom, after Ghana progressed to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations.
Rotherham look set to welcome back top goal scorer Danny Ward to their starting XI after injury meant he was restricted to just 30 minutes at Newcastle last weekend.
Kirk Broadfoot (back) and Dextor Blackstock (hamstring) remain doubts however, while Lee Frecklington (ankle) and Lee Camp (knee) are long-term absentees.
In between the sticks, Richard O’Donnell could make his home debut for the Millers after joining from Bristol City.
Man in the Middle
Former Premier League referee Keith Stroud will take charge of a Barnsley game for the third time this season on Saturday.
The Reds will be hoping for a better afternoon however, with the Club suffering 4-2 defeats against both Ipswich and Fulham in their previous meetings with Stroud this term.
In total the 47-year-old has watched over eight Barnsley games, with the Reds winning four, drawing two and losing two.
The Hampshire-based official has met with hosts Rotherham just once so far this season; running the rule over their 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa in August.
That was just the Club’s second loss in his company however, with five wins and two draws also coming their way.
So far this season, Stroud has refereed 29 games, dishing out 144 yellow cards and 11 reds including three in his last five matches.
Their Star Man
They may be sitting bottom of the Championship but one bright spark in a disappointing campaign so far for the Millers has been the form of striker Danny Ward.
The Bradford-born forward has already equalled his previous best of 10 goals for a season and with his performances continuing to improve, he is certain to beat that tally in the next few weeks and months.
He began the campaign as he meant to go on with a goal just nine minutes into the new season against Wolves, while a hot streak of six goals in eight games during September and October saw other Clubs sit up and take notice.
The former Huddersfield man has not been short of admirers in the January transfer window, with his agility, pace, goals and strength in the air, making him the ideal forward in the eyes of several Championship managers.
Also able to play out wide, the 26-year-old has two assists this term, but with Rotherham involved in the thick of a relegation battle, the Millers will be doing all they can to hang onto their prize asset in the next few days.
Mutual Man
In March 2008 Kayode Odejayi netted just his second goal for Barnsley but despite that, it was a strike which will always see the giant forward remembered fondly at Oakwell. That’s because the goal in question saw the Reds knock Chelsea out of the FA Cup and in the process earn the Club a semi-final trip to Wembley.
Unfortunately a narrow loss against Cardiff ended that Cup dream but just three days after that defeat and Odejayi bagged his third and fourth goals for the Tykes in a 3-0 win at Watford.
Although he only found the back of the net four times in his debut season at Oakwell, it did earn the Bristol City youth product a first and only cap for Nigeria.
The 34-year-old remained a regular in the 2008-09 season but after scoring just once he spent time on loan with Scunthorpe, before joining Colchester on a similar deal at the start of the following campaign.
During that loan spell Odejayi netted seven times in 17 games which saw his temporary switch made permanent in January 2010. Following two-and-a-half years with the U’s, he dropped down a division to join Saturday’s hosts Rotherham in May 2012.
Things started off very well for the former Tyke with two goals in his first four games and although he managed just three more, he did play 45 times as the Millers clinched promotion to League One.
Despite that, he wouldn’t get to play a part in the third tier for Rotherham; spending the 2013-14 season on loan at Accrington Stanley, ahead of a permanent switch to Tranmere in June 2014.
The Nigerian spent just one season at Prenton Park however and in July 2015 he joined Stockport County.
Form Guide
Barnsley's last five away from home: (LWWDL)
Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Barnsley
Cardiff 3-4 Barnsley
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Barnsley
Blackpool 0-0 Barnsley (FA Cup)
Fulham 2-0 Barnsley
Rotherham’s last five at home: (WWLLW)
Rotherham 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Rotherham 3-2 Wigan Athletic
Rotherham 1-2 Burton Albion
Rotherham 2-3 Oxford United (FA Cup)
Rotherham 2-1 Norwich City
Going to the match?
Rotherham plays at the New York Stadium, its address is as follows:
AESSEAL NEW YORK STADIUM
New York Way
Rotherham
S60 1AH
How to get there
By Car:
Directions from the South
-M1 Junction 33, take 3rd exit signed A630 Rotherham
-1st Roundabout (Junction with A631) at roundabout take 1st exit
-2nd Roundabout - A630 (Canklow Roundabout) take 2nd exit
-3rd Roundabout - A630 (Ickles Roundabout) take 2nd exit
-After the first set of traffic lights move into the right hand filter lane and you will then come back on yourself and take the first left onto Main Street.
-Turn right onto Don Street after the council offices, and follow the signs for 'Town Centre Parking'
Directions from the North
-M1 Junction 35 leave motorway, take 1st exit signed A629 (Upper Wortley Road)
-1st Roundabout - take 2nd exit (A629)
-2nd Roundabout - take 2nd exit (A629)
-3rd Roundabout (College Rd / B&Q Roundabout) take the 4th exit
-After the first set of traffic lights take the first exit onto Main Street
-Turn right onto Don Street after the council offices, and follow the signs for 'Town Centre Parking'
Parking:
There is no car parking for away fans at the ground, the only exception will be pre-agreed disabled parking. There are a number of private parking areas around the ground, including a pay and display on Sheffield Road and an NCP in the town centre.
By Bus & Train:
The main Rotherham Bus and Train stations are both within 10 minutes walking time of the stadium.
We would recommend this as a travel options for fans where possible. Once exiting the bus/train station there is ample pedestrian signage to direct you to the stadium.
Ticket Information
The Club took the largest allocation available and they are now SOLD OUT. We will not be getting a further allocation of tickets.
Thank you for your continued superb support home and away this season!
Coach departs Oakwell at 12.45pm prompt, priced at £13 per seat.
If you can't make it to the match listen to LIVE commentary on Barnsley Player HD!
